VOICE AND VIDEO CALLING OVER LONG TERM EVOLUTION-BASED USER INTERFACE

• US 20160021336A1
• Filed: 07/21/2014
• Published: 01/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Abbott, Martin, Park, So Young
• Granted Patent: US 9,838,528 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1016 IP multimedia subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1059 End-user terminal functionalities specially adapted for real-time communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1089 by adding media; by removing media
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera constructional features concerning the integration of cameras in portable phones H04M1/0264
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information

Abstract

A video calling service provides a mobile device user is provided the capability to transition from a voice call to a video call within a calling session in a voice over long term evolution (VoLTE). The example video calling service offers a seamless transition of a voice call to a video call in a simplified and efficient process. In an example, a graphical user interface is provided that allows a user to select controls to provide real-time stream of video of a live scene via a rear facing camera to another user during a video call. Other examples describe the merger of individual voice calls into a merged call with the individual calls grouped as a conference call. The examples provide simplified use of a mobile device to transition voice calls to a video call in a cellular carrier'"'"'s mobile network.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

during a voice call between a first mobile device and a second mobile device, confirming that the first mobile device video calling settings are on;

upon determining whether the first mobile device is located in a coverage area of the mobile communication network in which video calling through the mobile communication network is available, presenting a prompt to a user allowing the first mobile device to change the voice call to a video call;

querying a presence server to determine whether the second mobile device has video calling capabilities;

in response to a determination that the second mobile device has video calling capabilities, provide on a graphical user interface of the first device a camera control input;

in response to a selection of the camera control input during the voice call, turning on a user facing camera of the first mobile device to present a video image of the user in a display portion of the graphical user interface of the first mobile device;

presenting a temporary thumbnail display area within the display portion of the graphical user interface of the first mobile device; and

switching the video image from the user facing camera from being presented on the display portion of the graphical user interface to the temporary thumbnail display area within the display portion, and presenting in the display portion of the graphical user interface video from the second mobile device upon set-up of the video call between the first and second devices, to present two way video of the call between the first mobile device and the second device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prior to the voice call between the first device and the second device, presenting a contact listing for a user of the second device in the display portion of the graphical user interface of the first mobile device;

based on settings of the first device, presenting with the second device'"'"'s user contact listing a plurality of icons, wherein the plurality of icons include a video icon having an alternative presentation indicating a limited video calling functionality of the first device; and

in response to a selection of the video icon, presenting a prompt confirming user selection of a video call request.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

in response to confirmation of the video call request, switching a mobile data setting of the first device to “

ON,”

switching the voice over mobile communication network setting of the first device to “

ON,” and

switching the mobile communication network video calling setting to “

ON.”

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile communication network is a long term evolution (LTE) network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the voice call is conducted according to voice over long term evolution standards.

6. A mobile device, comprising:

a radio frequency transceiver communicatively coupled to a mobile communication network;

a rearward facing camera configured to generate a real-time stream of video of a live scene from a back side of the mobile device;

a display device configured to present a graphical user interface including an image display portion on a front side of the mobile device, wherein the front side of the mobile device is opposite the back side of the mobile device;

a memory storing executable program instructions for voice and video calling services;

a processor connected to control the transceiver, camera and display device and connected to access program instructions in the memory, wherein the processor when executing the program instructions for voice and video calling is configured to perform functions, including functions, during a voice call with another mobile device, to;

in response to selection of a one-way video control button, turn on the rearward facing camera;

begin generating a real time stream of video of a live scene in a field of view of the rearward facing camera;

presenting the video in the display portion of the mobile device;

presenting a thumbnail image with an identifier associated with a user of the other mobile device in a subsection of the display device;

determining whether the other mobile is capable of receiving video; and

in response to a determination that the other mobile device is capable of receiving video, forwarding the video via the radio frequency transceiver to the other mobile device.

7. The mobile device of claim 6, wherein the processor when executing program instructions is configured to perform functions, including functions, during the voice call with the other mobile device, to:

send a request to the other mobile device confirming that the video is to be forwarded to the other mobile device;

present a status indicator of the sent request in the display device; and

in response to a confirmation that the video is to be forwarded to the other mobile device, remove the status indicator from the display device.

8. The mobile device of claim 6, wherein the processor when executing program instructions is configured to perform functions, including functions, during a subsequent voice call with a different mobile device, to:

receive a request from the different mobile device requesting confirmation that video generated by the different mobile device is to be forwarded to the mobile device;

in response to the received request, presenting a first prompt on the display device requesting confirmation to upgrade the subsequent voice call to allow the video generated by the different mobile device to be presented on the image display portion of the display device and a second prompt for choosing to remain in the subsequent voice call only.

9. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein the processor when executing program instructions is configured to perform functions, including functions, during the subsequent voice call with the different mobile device, to:

in response to selection of the first prompt, present the video generated by the different mobile device on the image display portion of the display device and maintain the subsequent voice call between the mobile device and the different mobile device.

10. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein the processor when executing program instructions is configured to perform functions, including functions, during the subsequent voice call with the different mobile device, to:

in response to selection of the send prompt, respond to the confirmation request with a denial message and maintain the subsequent voice call between the mobile device and the different mobile device.

11. The mobile device of claim 6, wherein the radio frequency transceiver is configured as a long term evolution standard transceiver suitable for voice and video calling.

12. The mobile device of claim 6, further comprising:

a radio access network transceiver communicatively coupled to a wireless access point for a radio access network, wherein the radio access network is different from the mobile communication network,

wherein the processor is further configured to perform functions, including functions to;

when the mobile communication network is unavailable, determine whether the wireless point of the radio access network has a known physical address; and

in response to the wireless access point being determined to have a known physical address, connect a voice call from the mobile device to the other mobile device via the radio access network transceiver and radio access network.

13. A mobile device, comprising:

a first radio frequency transceiver communicatively coupled to a mobile communication network;

a second radio frequency transceiver configured to communicate over a radio access network, wherein the radio access network is coupled to and different from the mobile communication network;

a display device configured to present a graphical user interface to a user of the mobile device;

a memory storing executable program instructions for providing voice and video calling services and user preferences related to the provisioning of the voice and video calling services;

a processor, wherein the processor when executing program instructions is configured to perform functions, including functions, during a voice call with another mobile device, to;

receive notification that cellular service is available via roaming arrangements;

determine whether a user has indicated use of roaming arrangement over a cellular network or use of a radio access network to complete a voice call through a mobile communication network;

in response to user selection of the radio access network for completing calls,

determine whether a geographic address of an access point to the radio access network is known by an entity of the mobile communication network; and

in response to the geographic address of the access point being known by the mobile communication network, complete the voice call over the radio access network.

14. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein the processor when executing program instructions is configured to perform functions, including functions to:

at the end of the voice call with the other mobile device, present a prompt on the display device of the mobile device requesting confirmation that future calls are to be completed using the access point when the access point is detected by the mobile device.

15. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein the processor when executing program instructions is configured to perform functions, including functions, prior to a subsequent voice call to:

present a prompt requesting user selection of the mobile communication network or the radio access network for completing a call.

16. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein the processor when executing program instructions is configured to perform functions, including functions, prior to a subsequent voice call to:

access user preferences in the memory of the mobile device to determine user settings regarding the use of the mobile communication network and the radio access network; and

determine whether the access point is indicated as an access point that is to be used to complete a call.

17. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein the mobile communication network is a long term evolution network suitable for voice and video calling.

18. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein the radio access network is a Wi-Fi network.

19. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein the first radio frequency transceiver is configured as a long term evolution standard transceiver suitable for voice and video calling.

20. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein the mobile device conforms with requirements of emergency response regulations for mobile network operators.